Top 10 CRMs for Landscaping & Gardening Businesses: Free and Paid Solutions to Streamline Customer and Job Management

Landscaping and gardening businesses thrive on strong customer relationships. While one-off jobs are common, it’s the repeat customers that ensure you’re able to pay your employees and keep the lights on. Of course, building those relationships with your customers isn’t simple. It requires ongoing effort, the right strategy, and the right tools. Your CRM (customer relationship management) platform is perhaps the single most critical tool in your toolbox.

What is a CRM?

CRMs are software platforms designed to help you connect with customers at different points in their journeys. They support multi-channel marketing and outreach efforts and ensure that you can be present for customers at different touchpoints, from discovery and research to problem-solving. Ultimately, they help you create engaged, happy customers who are willing to become brand ambassadors and evangelists on your behalf.

Do you need a CRM?

It’s tempting to think that you can do everything you need without investing in a CRM. Yes, you can do a lot with Excel and other tools. However, pursuing that path too far can lead to major fragmentation and disarray. The right CRM ensures that your employees have access to all relevant information about a customer in a centralized location for more accurate communication, better problem-solving, and faster relationship building.

Don’t take our word for it. Check out some of these statistics from Pipeline:

• CRM revenue is predicted to reach $80 billion by 2025.

• 59% of customers say that tailored engagement is critical in their decision-making processes.

• 44% of customers will ignore untargeted pitches and offers.

• 70% of sales professionals say that CRMs help them close more sales.

• Over 45% of CRM users tap this software for automation and contact management.

• Almost 60% of CRM automation is dedicated to nurturing leads.

• CRMs deliver a 300% increase in lead conversion and 47% growth in customer retention and satisfaction.

That data should be more than enough to pique your interest in CRMs. Now, let’s take a look at the options you have available.

The 10 Best CRMs for Landscaping and Gardening Businesses

The right CRM can make a major difference in your business’s success and your ability to engage and convert leads and retain customers over time. Here are 10 of the top choices for you.

1. Arborgold

Arborgold is a customer management solution for landscape companies and lawn and garden service providers of all sizes. The platform is designed to streamline various processes and improve the customer experience by offering better management. 

The platform can store phone messages, track appointments, and provide these details to reps in the field. There is also a robust search for leads and customers by several fields, including name or address, job site, invoice number, and more. Job scheduling tools streamline that process and filters make tracking jobs and getting information easy. 

Arborgold includes a proposal module with templates, billing and invoicing tools, and email marketing to assist with keeping customers informed. Automated features and workflows are available, as well. 

The most important features of Arborgold include:

• Free option? No, but a trial is available

• Price: $129 per month

• Voice broadcasting that generates service notifications and reminders

• Email and print invoicing

• Detailed customer search queries

• Automatic job organization

• Scalable platform can be used for businesses of any size

2. HubSpot CRM

HubSpot CRM is one of the leading free tools available today, offering plenty of features and services for those in the landscaping industry who need a simple, user-friendly solution for customer management. HubSpot offers an intuitive CRM that is scalable and includes a lot more features than you might expect without a cost involved. 

Of course, paid plans are available by upgrade for those who want a little more from their investment. Even in the free platform, though, users will enjoy things like robust analytics, customer experience tracking, and integrated communication tools for a streamlined operation. 

HubSpot offers user segmentation, information sharing, and the support of the HubSpot community of users, developers, and others. It also offers user-generated content and templates that can make it even easier for you to run your landscaping business. 

The key features of HubSpot include:

• Free option? Yes

• Price: $1,600 per month and up

• Contract-free CRM tool with robust features

• Detailed customer segmentation and search features

• Customer experience tracking and other analytical insights

• User-friendly dashboard

3. Aspire

While it comes at a cost, Aspire is a well-regarded CRM for landscaping and gardening businesses. It’s designed with this industry in mind, whereas others take a more generalist approach. That means you’ll benefit from tools, features, and capabilities chosen because businesses like yours actively need them, like estimating capabilities.

Other features you’ll find within Aspire include scheduling, job costing, reporting, invoicing, routing, and a ton of others. The CRM also makes it easy to manage the customer relationship and be there when your customers need you, no matter what the touchpoint or communication channel might be.

• Free option? No, but you can schedule a free demo to put it through its paces

• Price: By quote only

• Integrates with QuickBooks

• Track and follow up with leads

• Mobile app

• Powerful tools designed to keep you in touch with your customers

• Integrates with other Aspire tools, like scheduling and estimating

• Designed specifically for landscaping and gardening companies

4. SingleOps

SingleOps is a dedicated service business CRM and total management solution. This is the #1 software for the green industry, offering end-to-end business management. 

The SingleOps system was built with features like a robust CRM, as well as estimate and scheduling tools, work orders, inventory and job costing, and even timesheets and employee management tools. The dynamic CRM includes rich customer data insights and seamless information sharing, with a cloud-based platform for scalability. 

The secure platform is designed to offer a powerful business tool to revolutionize business management for landscapers, with a dedicated focus on the customer experience. The SingleOps CRM and business management platform is designed for simplicity and cost savings. 

The key features of note with SingleOps include:

• Free option? No

• Price: $200 per month

• Dedicated software for the green industry

• QB sync and other integrations

• Work orders and job costing insights for increased efficiency

5. LMN

This landscape management software is designed to help businesses manage their customers and streamline their operations at the same time. The platform highlights include estimate creation, file storage, sales report generation, and customer data insights. 

LMN offers a rich customer database with contact information, job details, estimates, history, important files and photos, and the ability to share this data across departments seamlessly. Templates are available and there are even gamification modules to assist with team engagement and employee training. 

LMN includes integrations with QuickBooks and other software solutions, a GPS tracking and routing solution, and even tools to track referral sources, lead generation rates, and other data. 

The key features of LMN to consider include:

• Free option? No

• Price: Starts at $335 per month

• Dynamic activity dashboard with detailed real-time reports

• Total customer management and job integration

• Third-party software integrations

• Cloud-based, secure access 

6. SortScape

SortScape is a dedicated landscaping management platform. This tool offers scheduling resources, along with customer and job information, tracking for employees, and more. Small brands throughout the US, Canada, the UK, and even Australia and New Zealand can use this software. 

The SortScape maintenance platform includes a robust tool for customer relationship management that segments users, helps track job and client information, and more. There are trackers for employees to record time, material expenses, and other job costs on the mobile app and the website, as well. 

This platform has a lot of robust features and is one of the easiest-to-use tools out there. The interface is user-friendly and mobile-optimized, ensuring that every landscaper or gardener has the tools they need on the go. 

The features of note with SortScape include:

• Free option? No, but a free trial is offered

• Price: Starts at $11 per month

• Cards and stacks make organizing tasks and customers easy

• An affordable price means small businesses can still embrace technology

• Dedicated solutions specifically for landscapers and gardeners

• Seasonal considerations included

7. Jobber

Jobber is a service industry CRM and management tool. Like some industry tools, it’s not a dedicated CRM but a total management solution to ensure that your landscaping business has everything that it needs. 

The Jobber platform includes tools for quoting, scheduling, invoicing, and more, making it easy for you to integrate your operations and keep track of your customers where it counts: through every step of the job. From the first request, until the bill is paid, Jobber makes sure that your customers have clear communication and that you both have the insights you need. 

The Jobber platform has proven to increase customer satisfaction among landscapers and other service professionals who have adopted it for their use. Plans are available for businesses of all sizes, as well. 

If you’re considering Jobber, check out features like:

• Free option? No, but there is a trial

• Price: $69 per month to start

• Seamless, simple invoicing and quoting solutions

• Integrates with several other software platforms

• Covers multiple industries

• Mobile app available

8. RealGreen

RealGreen was developed by WorkWave, a well-known generalist CRM platform. This one is purpose-designed for landscaping, gardening, arborist, and related businesses and brings a lot to the table that you’re sure to appreciate. You can automate many manual tasks while staying connected to both customers and employees in the field.

RealGreen also supports improved customer communication. Leads and current customers can request estimates and service calls online, while your team can process payments right through the CRM. You can also accept referrals, and customer data management is a breeze. It’s also possible to create and send invoices within the application.

Why consider RealGreen?

• Free option? No, but you can schedule a free demo

• Price: By quote only

• Plenty of automation options

• Routing optimization

• Invoicing and payment processing

• Online estimate and service requests

9. Service M8

Service M8 is revolutionizing the service industry one business at a time. This app guides users from quotes to invoicing and payment, offering real-time information and insights on the business. You will know what jobs are active, what quotes are floating around, which customers need you now, and which will need you down the road. 

With Service M8, brands can get a real-time view of their business from above and collect a 360-degree view of their customers. You can manage and receive jobs, produce quotes, use templates for communication, and more. There is also a dispatch board for easy online scheduling and job completion, and iOS support is available for scheduling. 

Service M8 is all about efficiency, streamlining access to customer information on the go. For the busy landscaper, part of the success in customer relations is having the information that you need when you need it. With this mobile-friendly platform, that’s easy to do. 

Some of the key features of Service M8 include:

• Free option? Yes

• Price: Starts at $20.30 per month

• Job diary with uploadable content for files, images, and quotes

• Client contact history with notes

• Task creation and allocation 

• Emailed reporting available

10. Zoho CRM

Zoho CRM is one of the leading tools on the market today. This platform offers cloud deployment along with browser access and native iOS and Android apps, allowing users to access their landscaping operations from anywhere. 

Zoho CRM offers standard plans at an affordable price, with dedicated features and a variety of tools that can be translated across several industries. This platform includes rich AI and machine learning tools that can streamline your customer management and provide a better end-to-end user experience. 

The Zoho CRM platform is a cloud-based, scalable solution that integrates with other software and apps to provide the total landscape business management that you need. 

The highlights of Zoho CRM include:

• Free option? Yes

• Price: $14 per month starting

• Sales forecasting tools to improve business

• Custom application development is available

• Industry-leading AI and machine learning technology

Smith.ai boosts these capabilities to build your success

The right CRM is one of the keys to achieving growth and success. However, you’ll need someone to handle communication with leads and customers. Automation can only do so much. Let the virtual receptionists at Smith.ai handle lead intake and 24/7 phone answering while your team focuses on what they do best. We can also provide SMS text answering, outbound callbacks, email and SMS follow-up, and other services to help you keep in touch with leads and customers to build a thriving business.

When you’re ready, contact us to schedule a free consultation — you can reach us via phone at (650) 709-2987 or by emailing hello@smith.ai.